The Globe-News pays all administrative costs, Self said, "so every single penny goes to those who need it."

"When we receive a donation in someone's name, we send an acknowledgement letter to the individual, stating that a donation had been made in his or her name," she said.

The United Way of Amarillo and Canyon is made up of 21 partner agencies.

In addition to the annual campaign, "we have people donate during the holidays in memoriam" of loved ones, said Leslie Richardson, director of marketing communications.

"If they donate to the United Way, it goes through the Community Care Fund," she said. "From December through February we have 90 community volunteers who meet to decide where the greatest need is.

"In March we announce to the community "this is where your money went."

"People can designate a particular agency for their donation, and we will absolutely honor that," Richardson said.

If the United Way receives a donation for a charity outside the 21 partner agencies, "we make sure it gets there," she said.

The only limitation for donations to charities outside the United Way agencies, Richardson said, is that the donation must be for a minimum of $100.

"But for the donation to make the biggest impact, we recommend the Community Care Fund," Richardson said.

High Plains Food Bank accepts monetary donations to help feed the needy in an area that encompasses more than just Amarillo, said Tiffany Prescott, director of public relations.

"When you support the High Plains Food Bank, you're helping out the entire Panhandle," she said. "We send out food to 177 member agencies throughout the area."

The food bank will begin a direct-mail fund-raising campaign the week after Thanksgiving, Prescott said.

"For every donation we get, we'll send out an ornament for the Christmas tree," she said. "If a donation is made in someone's name, we'll send recognition to the person in whose name the donation was made."

The money collected by the food bank does not go to buy additional food, Prescott said.

"We can access 20,000 pounds of food from Oklahoma City," she said. "The transportation fees run about $350 for an entire truckload of food. That's where the money would go."

Prescott said High Plains Food Bank is a great value for the community.

"For every $1 of public support we get, we can distribute $16 of food to needy families," she said.